Track-sight



Patented Mar. I4, I899.

0. S. KEPLEB.

TRACK SIGHT.

(Apphcation filed Nov 17, 189

2 Sheets$heet I.

(No Model.)

Miran "TATES TRACK-SIGHT;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,254, dated March 14, 1899. Application filed November 17, 1897- Serial No. 658,808. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORLANDO S. KEPLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Patterson, in the county of J uniata and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Sights; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, relates to certain new and useful improvements in what is termed a track sight or gage, the object being to provide a reliably eflicient device of the character specified which may be cheaply manufactured and readily used by any one Whether skilled or unskilled, and while it is especially applicable for use in raising and lowering the grade-line of railway tracks or roads it is also desirable and efficient in adjusting the curvature of the rails forming the track inasmuch as the appliance may be readily manipulated to bring the rail in the desired position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention complete, showing the position of the track-rail by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal section of the housing designed to accommodate the curtain when rolled. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the clamping-jaw separated from the other parts. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the base or body section, taken on line a a of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail showing another form of my invention applied to use upon the track-rail. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of Fig; 5, Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of Fig. 5.

Briefly stated, my invention consists in a suitable body or base plate provided with clamping-jaws designed to engage the track rail and also with a graduated standard carrying a suspended curtain and certain devices for securing said standard and curtain in an adjusted position.

Referring in detail to the several parts of my invention, 1 is the body or base of my improved track-sight, which consists of the graduated base-plate proper, 2, having the fixed and movable jaws, respectively 3 and 4,

the latter being provided with the guide-section 5, designed to be received by the slotted aperture 6, said guide being provided with the retaining-flange '7, designed to lie in contact with the bottom of the base 2, and thus hold the movable jaw 4 against vertical movement, though freely permitting it to reciprocate within the slotted aperture 6 when actuated by the set-screw 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Integrally formed with the base-section 2 and forming a practical continuation thereof are the parallel flanges 9 and 10, joined together at their outer ends by the end section 11 and having the inwardly-directed supp0rting-flanges 12, which extend inward toward but not in contact with each other, forming the slotted opening 13, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

Designed to rest upon the flanges 12 are the hollow sockets 14 and 15, which are so formed as to be snugly received betweenthe flanges 9 and 10 in such a manner that said sockets may be moved from one end of the support thus provided to the other and be secured at any point thereon by means of the retaining-pin 16, which passes through an aperture provided in the base extension 17 of said sockets and through registering apertures 18, provided in said flanges.

In order that the body or base 1, constructed as above set forth or in a substantially equivalent form, may be brought into a true or level position, I provide the indicating device 19, constructed in the usual or any preferred way and permanently secured to one of the side flanges 9 or 10.

Each of the sockets 14 and 15 is provided throughout its entire length with the rectangular opening 20, designed to receive the graduated standard 21, held therein in an adjusted position by the set-screw 22, which latter, it will be understood, may be used in connection with either of the sockets, as it is designed to fit the threaded aperture 23, provided in the retaining-plate 24:. I

It will be observed that the standard 21 may be so adjusted that the lower end thereof may project downward through the slot 13 or may be elevated so that said lower end will be engaged directly by the set-screw 22, and should it be desired to increase said eleva- IOO ' commodate the revoluble shaft 26,upon which the curtain 27 is rolled and stored when not in use, and in order that the lower end of the curtain may not be swayed by the wind and taken out of the position which it is desired to occupy I provide a suitable anchoring device, consisting in this instance of the ballasting-rod 28, to r rich the curtain is secured in any preferred way, said rod being attached at its inner end to the movable collar 29, de-

signed to snugly receive the graduated standard 21 and be freely moved thereon in either direction. Designed to accommodate said collar whenthe device is not in use I provide upon the under side of the housing 25, near its point of connection with the graduated standard 21, the recess 30, which permits said collar to be iully received thereby when the curtain is entirely rolled, thus disposing of the ballasting-rod 28 within the housing 25 and preventing the curtain from being injured while the device is being moved from one point to another.

By the dotted lines 31, as illustrated in Fig. 1, I have shown a section of a track-rail disposed between the jaws 3 and t, and when the latter has been moved against the base of the rail by means of the set-screw 8 it will be observed that the entire device will be secu rely locked into relationship with said rail, when the curtain 27 may be unwound, so-as to bring the ballasting-rod 28 in contact with the top of the rail, when the standard 21 may be adjusted to cooperate with the grade-stakes or other points and the device is ready for use, the line of observation being preferably over the top of the housing 25.

It will be observed by Figs. 1 and2 that a suitable button or other turning device 32 is attached to the outer end of the shaft 26, by means of which the curtain is easily rolled or unrolled. It will be understood that the movable jaw may have interposed between it and the point of the set-screw 8 anydesired number of blocks, as 33, by means of which the jaw can be forced inward to the desired point, the base 2 being graduated, as indicated by 3i, to readily enable the operator to obtain the proper adjustment.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have illustrated another form of my invention, which, while substantially the same as the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, is provided with certain details not therein shown. In Fig. 5 I have provided in substitution for the fixed and movable jaws, respectively 3 and t, the plurality of locking-arms 35 and 36, the former being provided with the set-screw 37, the extreme end of which has swiveled thereon the clamping nut or head 38, while the clampingarm 36 is also provided with a set screw, as 39. By means of the set-screws just referred to the base of the track-rail is engaged, thus reliably connecting the device in position. The other elements employed are substantially the same as those illustrated in Fig. 1, the graduated standard 21 being provided in this instance with a tubular housing 40 for the curtain 27, the lower side of said housing being slotted to permit the curtain to extend downward into engagement with the trackrail, it being understood that said curtain is mounted upon the revoluble shaft 41, which may be actuated by means of the crank or handle 42, thus enabling the curtain to be readily wound or unwound, as the circumstances may require.

In order to prevent the locking-pins 16 from being casually displaced and lost,I provide the .retaining-ehain 16, preferably permanently attached to the sockets, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

It will be seen that I have provided a very simple appliance to meet the requirements of the purposes specified, the parts of which may be cheaply manufactured and readily assembled in their respective operative positions, and that the same may be quickly applied to use or packed in suitable form for storage or shipment from point to point.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rail-sight, the combination of abase having means to secure it to the rail, a socket laterally adjustable and mounted on said base, a graduated sight-standard adapted to fit said socket and be vertically adjusted therein and means for securing said standard in the desired position in said socket as set forth.

2. In a rail-sight, the combination of a base having a clamping device to secureit to the rail, a socket laterally adjustable and carrying heights mounted in said socket a graduated standard adapted to fit said socket and a set-screw seated in said socket and adapted to bear against said standard and hold it in the desired position substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a rail sight, the combination of a base, means to secure the base to a rail, a socket laterally adjustable mounted in said base, a graduated sight-standard adapted to fit said socket, and having a hollow lateral projection at its top carrying a curtain or signal and means to retain said curtain taut or in place, all arranged as set forth.

4. In a rail-sight, the combination of a base, means to secure the base to a rail, a socket laterally adjustable, mounted in said base, a graduated sight-standard adapted to fit said socket and having a hollow lateral projection at its top carrying a signal and a bracket sliding on the sight-standard having a proj ectin g arm engaging said signal, whereby the latter is held in position, all arranged as set forth.

5. In a rail-sight, the combination of a base carrying a level and adapted to be secured to a rail, a clamp designed to embrace the rail and having a movable part to lock them together, a socket laterally adjustable, mounted in said base, a graduated sight-standard adjustable in said socket and suitable means carried by said standard for Winding and housing a signal, and additional means for holding said signal taut all arranged as set forth. 6. In a rail-sight the combination with a base adapted to be secured to the base of a rail, of a sight adjustably mounted on said base and having a hollow lateral projection and a curtain or apron mounted in said projection and adapted to be lowered from the same to contact with the top of the rail, substantially as described.

7. In a rail-sight, the combination with a base adapted to be secured to the base of a rail and having a graduated scale formed thereon, of a socket mounted on said base so as to be capable of lateral adjustment thereon, a graduated sight-standard mounted in said socket and means for securing said standard at any desired position in said socket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a rail-sight the combination with a base having a plurality of clamping-arms, thumb-screws passed through said arms to engage the base of a rail, apertured flanges formed on said base, a socket adapted to slide on said base, a pin adapted to be passed through the apertured flanges of said base and a portion of said base, a standard vertically adjustable in said socket and a laterallyprojecting hollow arm mounted on said standard and containing a movable apron or ourtain adapted to contact with the top of the rail, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ORLANDO S. KEPLER.

Witnesses:

ALEX R. MELoY, GEORGE W. WiLsoN. 

